Global Reach

Europe

Our European presence dates back to 1925 when we first opened a Paris office. We now have six offices in Europe that assist both European and U.S. clients in a wide range of matters involving private equity, capital markets M&A, insurance, corporate law, business reorganization, tax, litigation, white collar advice, and EU competition and antitrust law. Our offices in Europe form a seamless network along with their U.S. counterparts to assist clients in cross-border work around the globe.

Featured Europe Experience

Constantia Flexibles in the Sale of its Labels Division to Multi-Color Corporation
Willkie represented Constantia Flexibles in the sale of its Labels division to Multi-Color Corporation for an enterprise value of approximately $1.3 billion.

Flex-N-Gate in its Purchase of Seven Plants in Europe from Plastic Omnium
Willkie represented Flex-N-Gate Group, a global automotive supplier, in its acquisition of seven European manufacturing plants – four in France, one in Spain and two in Germany – from France-based Plastic Omnium.

Cerelia in its Acquisition of English Bay Batter
Willkie represented Cerelia (backed by IK Investment Partners), leading French producer of rolled dough and pancakes in Europe, in its acquisition of North American cookie specialist English Bay Batter, and its related leveraged refinancing. The merger creates an international group offering an expanded range of products through three different distribution channels: retail, in-store bakery and food-service.

Bpifrance in its Acquisition of a Stake in French Automaker Peugeot SA
Willkie represented Bpifrance, the state-owned French bank, in its €1.92 billion acquisition of a 12.7 percent stake in French automaker Peugeot SA from the French State.

Bonduelle in its Agreement to Acquire Ready Pac Foods
Willkie represented Bonduelle, the world leader in ready-to-eat vegetables present in the canned, frozen, fresh-cut and delicatessen categories, announced that it has agreed to acquire Ready Pac Foods, the U.S. market leader in single-serve salad bowls.

Lenders in Restructuring of Latécoère A Willkie team from London, Paris and Washington, DC recently closed the financial restructuring of Latécoère SA, a Toulouse-based company operating globally in the aviation and aerospace sector. Willkie acted for funds advised by Apollo and Monarch, who led a lender working group. Completion of the restructuring, which comprised a partial debt-for-equity swap and new money injection, saw Apollo and Monarch becoming substantial shareholders in the company and taking on anchor investor, sponsor-style roles with significant board representation.

Two Major Healthcare Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects in TurkeyWillkie is advising on the first two healthcare PPP projects in Turkey, a €550 million facility in Adana, and a new 476-bed hospital in Yozgat.

Lenders and Anchor Investors in Vivarte’s €2.5 Billion RestructuringWillkie represented members of the ad hoc lender committee and anchor investors as part of the financial restructuring of the French fashion retailer Vivarte, marking the largest-ever fully consensual French restructuring. The restructuring involved a debt for equity swap/write off of €2 billion and a €500 million infusion of new money.

Arkema in Proposed €1.74 Billion Acquisition of Bostik
Willkie is advising Arkema, a global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, which has proposed to acquire Bostik from French oil company Total SA for a total enterprise value of €1.74 billion.

Prudential in a Record $27 Billion Longevity Risk Transfer Transaction with British Telecom
A cross-border team represented Prudential in a $27 billion (£16 billion) longevity risk transfer deal covering approximately 25% of BT Pension Scheme’s liabilities associated with increases in life expectancy of its beneficiaries. The matter is the largest single longevity transaction on record.

Wendel Acquires Constantia Flexibles
A cross-border, multidisciplinary deal team from Willkie’s Frankfurt, Paris, London, Brussels and New York offices represented Paris-listed private equity firm Wendel in its agreement to acquire a majority interest in Constantia Flexibles, one of the world leaders in flexible packaging. Constantia is valued at €2.3 billion.

Thales Group in Closing of $400 Million Acquisition of LiveTV from JetBlueWillkie advised Thales in the completion of its acquisition of LiveTV, a company that revolutionized the inflight entertainment space.

Rockwood in $1.98 Billion Sale of CeramTecA multidisciplinary, cross-border team represented specialty chemicals company Rockwood Holdings, Inc. in its deal to sell CeramTec, its advanced ceramics business, to European private equity firm Cinven.

German Advertising Company Scout24 in $2 Billion SaleWillkie served as counsel to Scout 24 in Deutsche Telekom’s sale of a 70 percent stake in Scout24 to San Francisco-based Hellman & Friedman LLC.

Orange in French Supreme Court VictoryThe firm obtained a significant victory for France-based multinational telecom company Orange in a competition dispute with Cowes (formerly Subiteo). The Commercial Chamber of the French Supreme Court reversed a December 2012 decision of the Paris Court in the dispute.

3i in $643 Million Sale of Hilite InternationalWillkie client 3i Group plc announced the $643 million sale of Germany’s Hilite International, a leading global supplier of highly engineered automotive engine and transmission components, to AVIC Electromechanical Systems Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China.